Solomon Airlines and Air Vanuatu enter new partnership

It's hoped a new partnership with Air Vanuatu will pave the way for Solomon Islands national carrier to expand its services in the region.

Under the new agreement, Solomon Airlines will codeshare with Air Vanuatu on its flights from Honiara to Port Vila and onto Nadi.

The airline's operations and commercial manager, Gus Kraus, says the new relationship is partly a result of Air Pacific recently ending its codeshare agreement with Air Vanuatu and says the two airlines could collaborate more in the future.

Mr Kraus says the company would like to re-enter the New Zealand market, and establish flights to Sydney in addition to the current Brisbane route, but says it won't go in if it's not sustainable.

"History tells us that when we're entering those markets we've got to be a bit more prudent and more conscious of the fact that they are very competitive markets. When we are thinking about New Zealand obviously we would like to talk to Air New Zealand and Air Vanuatu and make it a tripartite type principle operation."

Gus Kraus.

Solomon Airlines has also been in negotiations with Air Niugini to codeshare on a Honiara to Port Moresby service.